Tray



g- 5, 1952 s. BLOOMFIELD 2,505,929

TRAY

Filed April 12, 1 949 uvmvron. 541mm 51 00Mr/Ezz7 AT TZMWL' PatentedAug. 5, 1952 UNITED STATES TENT OFFICE 1 Claim. 1

This invention relates to improvements in trays and particularly intrays and like utensils of the kind preferably shaped from a singlesheet of thermo-plastic material and formed with a filled surroundingrolled or beaded edge.

The trays and other utensils or containers having an open rolled beadare objectionable because in use the interior of the bead becomes fouland often retains water after having been washed and dried. The waterretained in the bead runs down the outside of the tray or container ontothe interior surface. of another tray when the trays are stacked. Anunsuccessful attempt to overcome this very objectionable characteristicin trays fabricated from sheet stock consists in placing a wire rodwithin the bead. This practice is not satisfactory because of thenatural tendency of the material forming the bead to uncurl slightlywhen the forming pressure is relieved, thus leaving a space between theinside surface of the bead and the enclosed rod.

The present invention overcomes all of the undesirable characteristicsoutlined briefly hereinabove in that the rolled bead snugly embraces anovel filler after the forming pressure has been relieved.

It is therefore an object of the invention to provide a tray with aperipheral rolled bead that is completely filled with a novel filler.

Another object is to provide a resilient filler for a bead on a tray orlike article.

Another object is to provide a structure wherein the bead filler willcontinue to serve its purpose even though the bead may become distortedor cracked in use.

Other and further objects of the present invention subsequently willbecome apparent by reference to the following description taken inconnection with the accompanying drawing wherein:

Figure 1 is a perspective view of a tray embodying the features of thepresent invention.

Figure 2 is a fragmentary sectional detail view taken substantially online 2-2 of Figure 1.

The tray shown in the accompanying drawing is fabricated from sheetstock such as, for example, thermo-plastic material. It should beunderstood, however, that sheet stock of other material such as steel oraluminum may be employed.

As best shown in Figure 1 the tray II is provided with inclined sidewalls 12 and a peripheral rolled edge I3 in the form of a continuoushollow bead. In forming the bead 13 the marginal edge of the tray isinitially rolled outwardly and downwardly. A strip of resilientlycompressible material I4, preferably rubber, which is circular incross-section, is laid in the inverted channel formed by the downwardlyextending margin and the side wall 12 of the tray. The downwardlyextending margin is then rolled inwardly and upwardly into substantiallythe dotted lines position shown at IS in Figure 2 so as to tightlycompress the strip 13.

Inasmuch as sheet material of the kind commonly used in the manufactureof trays embodies a limited amount of resiliency, it is desirable toroll the free edge of the margin upwardly beyond its normal intendedposition. This compensates for the natural springback of the materialwhen the rolling pressure is relieved. As a result, the bottom wall ofthe bead assumes the normal position shown in full lines in Figure 2.

The bead formed in the manner described hereinabove is continuous and isdevoid of any opening on its undersurface through which waste materialor water may enter. The resilient filler completely occupies theinterior of the bead, thus preventing the entrance and accumulation ofany water or waste material within the bead interior, as might occurshould the bead become distorted or broken in use.

Although'an exemplary form of tray and head has been illustrated in theaccompanying drawing and described in the foregoing specification, itshould be understood that the invention may be embodied in theconstruction and fabrication of other articles without departing fromthe spirit of the invention or the scope of the appended claim.

I claim:-

A tray having an outwardly downwardly inwardly and then upwardly rolledperipheral edge and a filler in said rolled edge, said filler being ayieldable non-metallic solid compressible to permit the free marginalarea of the rolled edge to be turned initially upwardly beyond itsspringback position and to completely fill and seal the bead when saidmarginal area springs back to its desired position.

SAMUEL BLOOMFIELD.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,427,879 Weinman Sept. 5. 19221,564,880 Mauser Dec. 8, 192 1,707,655 Cohn Apr. 2, 1929 1,799,205 WoodApr. 7, 1931 1,800,791 Gunter Apr. 14, 1931 1,864,200 Kaufmann June 21,1932 1,982,696 Rosenberg Dec. 4, 1934 2,187,154 Ingersoll et a1. Jan.16, 1940

